--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My wife and I were poor when I started…" description: "\"My wife and I were poor when I started but we struggled along until things happened for me in my thirties. I knew I was doing what I loved even if I wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e59/denis-leary-1350_happened_my-wife-and-i-were-poor-when-i-started-b_907913.png" --- # My wife and I were poor when I started but we struggled… ![“My wife and I were poor when I started but we struggled along until things happened for me in my thirties. I knew I was doing what I loved even if I wasn't getting paid for it, so I think I'd still be doing it.” quote by Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e59/denis-leary-1350_happened_my-wife-and-i-were-poor-when-i-started-b_907913.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e59/denis-leary-1350_happened_my-wife-and-i-were-poor-when-i-started-b_907913.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e59/denis-leary-1350_happened_my-wife-and-i-were-poor-when-i-started-b_907913.png) > “My wife and I were poor when I started but we struggled along until things happened for me in my thirties. I knew I was doing what I loved even if I wasn't getting paid for it, so I think I'd still be doing it.” [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Passion for work sustains perseverance despite lack of early financial reward. **In simple terms:** Doing what you love keeps you going. Key Takeaway Follow passion, not profit. Themes perseverance passion career resilience Mood reflective determined Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - artistic pursuits - career transitions - financial hardship Key Concepts intrinsic motivation long‑term fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What would you do if you could work for free? - How does love for work offset hardship? A Different Perspective Passion may not guarantee financial stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) [Happened Thirties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened-thirties-1304648/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [My wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-wife/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-started-1304649/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thirties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirties/) [Thirties Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirties-knew-1304647/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) [Wife Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife-poor-1304650/) ## Related quotes > [Never knew how poor I was until I started making money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/never-knew-how-poor-i-was-until-i-started-making-money/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [My mother kept the house clean and we ate good. I didn't know we were poor until I started giving interviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/my-mother-kept-the-house-clean-and-we-ate-good-i-didn-t-know-we-were/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [My wife, who, poor wretch, is troubled with her lonely life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/my-wife-who-poor-wretch-is-troubled-with-her-lonely-life/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [“She wants to see the children before she dies,” pronounced his wife. “Poor thing. I expect she’s very lonely and unhappy right out there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-mitchell/she-wants-to-see-the-children-before-she-dies-pronounced-his-wife/) [Gladys Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-mitchell/) > [“At sixty, I worshiped her with the volcanic ardour of eighteen. All the gold of my rich nature was poured hopelessly at her feet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collings/at-sixty-i-worshiped-her-with-the-volcanic-ardour-of-eighteen-all-the/) [Wilkie Collings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collings/) > [Thirties. Go to therapy. Clean up all of the sh-t. Clean up all of the toxins and the noise. Understand who you are. Educate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-aniston/thirties-go-to-therapy-clean-up-all-of-the-sh-t-clean-up-all-of-the/) [Jennifer Aniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-aniston/) > [Maybe when you're 18, 19, 20, you could have a bit of a wobble if you're going on live TV and playing guitar. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/maybe-when-you-re-18-19-20-you-could-have-a-bit-of-a-wobble-if-you-re/) [Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/) > [I've always been confident with who I was, but my twenties were hard. I had to learn a lot of life lessons and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-longoria/i-ve-always-been-confident-with-who-i-was-but-my-twenties-were-hard-i/) [Eva Longoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-longoria/) > [There was definitely a point in my thirties when I thought, 'Oh, wow, I'm not the youngest person on the set anymore.' But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/there-was-definitely-a-point-in-my-thirties-when-i-thought-oh-wow-i-m/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [By the time you are in your thirties, most of the time, you've got a job, you can pay for your rent, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-aselton/by-the-time-you-are-in-your-thirties-most-of-the-time-you-ve-got-a/) [Katie Aselton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-aselton/) > [Nobody smart knows what they want to do until they get into their twenties or thirties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/nobody-smart-knows-what-they-want-to-do-until-they-get-into-their/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Women in their thirties are much more nervous about dating. They feel time is 'running out for them. They want to get married and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-hussey/women-in-their-thirties-are-much-more-nervous-about-dating-they-feel/) [Matthew Hussey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-hussey/) > [I suppose I'm led to do so by the fact of what happened to my contemporaries - people whom I've admired, people who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/i-suppose-i-m-led-to-do-so-by-the-fact-of-what-happened-to-my/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [It was an odd coincidence that my career took off the same decade as having babies. I often wished it had been different, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-kaczmarek/it-was-an-odd-coincidence-that-my-career-took-off-the-same-decade-as/) [Jane Kaczmarek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-kaczmarek/) > [“Once you get into your thirties, you stop giving a fuck what people think about your opinions. You're more confident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-b-powell/once-you-get-into-your-thirties-you-stop-giving-a-fuck-what-people/) [Aaron B. Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-b-powell/) ## More by Denis Leary > [I'm sick and tired of our generation being called the TV generation. What do you expect? We watched Lee Harvey Oswald get his brains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-m-sick-and-tired-of-our-generation-being-called-the-tv-generation/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [My father left Ireland because he did not want to muck horse manure for the rest of his life, and he wanted to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/my-father-left-ireland-because-he-did-not-want-to-muck-horse-manure/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I've eaten things that didn't complain this much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-ve-eaten-things-that-didn-t-complain-this-much/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [What I've learned is that life is too short and movies are too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/what-i-ve-learned-is-that-life-is-too-short-and-movies-are-too-long/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [Yeah, I love living in New York, man, and people who live in New York, we wear that fact like a badge right on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/yeah-i-love-living-in-new-york-man-and-people-who-live-in-new-york-we/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I've always had a thing for Catwoman. Michelle Pfeiffer or Halle Berry in tight leather pants, with the boots - I'm pretty good with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-ve-always-had-a-thing-for-catwoman-michelle-pfeiffer-or-halle-berry/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I spent a long time working in the movies to figure out that kind of acting and also how to write and produce for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-spent-a-long-time-working-in-the-movies-to-figure-out-that-kind-of/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I do have to say that I think that President Obama is the greatest President in the history of all of our Presidents, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-do-have-to-say-that-i-think-that-president-obama-is-the-greatest/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I don't want to see a 'Sopranos' movie. This is just me. I like to think the end is where it was on TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-don-t-want-to-see-a-sopranos-movie-this-is-just-me-i-like-to-think/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [The best comedy audiences in the country and this is tried and true, I'm not just saying it, in my opinion are Boston, Atlanta,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/the-best-comedy-audiences-in-the-country-and-this-is-tried-and-true-i/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [Happy Easter everyone! Jesus dies, comes back from the dead - and we get chocolate eggs. It's like turn-down service from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/happy-easter-everyone-jesus-dies-comes-back-from-the-dead-and-we-get/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I believe in prescription drugs. I believe in feeling better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-believe-in-prescription-drugs-i-believe-in-feeling-better/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [You really want to have a back-up plan, so when you don't feel like acting, or you're getting older and settling down, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/you-really-want-to-have-a-back-up-plan-so-when-you-don-t-feel-like/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [You try to - you want to fly on both sides of the political fence because that's where the - where the comedy is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/you-try-to-you-want-to-fly-on-both-sides-of-the-political-fence/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I'm not really a Spider-Man fan. I'm more of a Batman guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-m-not-really-a-spider-man-fan-i-m-more-of-a-batman-guy/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) [Explore all 252 Denis Leary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) ## More Happened quotes > [“It was about damn time something happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/it-was-about-damn-time-something-happened/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [My feeling has always been that 'Good Eats' would have never happened had it been left to a committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/my-feeling-has-always-been-that-good-eats-would-have-never-happened/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I hadn't worked for a year when I had my Prison Break audition and it was the easiest audition I've ever had. I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-hadn-t-worked-for-a-year-when-i-had-my-prison-break-audition-and-it/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [The truth is I've just never had any kind of plan at all for my career, which is probably not a very flattering thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burrell/the-truth-is-i-ve-just-never-had-any-kind-of-plan-at-all-for-my/) [Ty Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burrell/) > [The Parthenon is really only a farmyard over which someone put a roof; colonades and sculptures were added because there were people in Athens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/the-parthenon-is-really-only-a-farmyard-over-which-someone-put-a-roof/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [How come I end up where I started How come I end up where I belong... 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It looks as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-zeisel/when-you-begin-your-work-nothing-exists-when-it-is-finished-it-looks/) [Eva Zeisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-zeisel/) [Browse all 5,722 Happened quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My wife and I were poor when I started but we struggled along until things happened for me in my thirties. 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